Broward Schools Superintendent Visits Liberty Elementary Students for AI Activity

by David Volz December 11, 2025

21Shares

Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn visited a group of fifth graders at Liberty Elementary School in Margate. {David Volz}

Artificial Intelligence is becoming more prominent in the lives of young people and in education.

Broward County Public Schools leaders and teachers are learning about AI themselves and looking for ways to incorporate it into their lessons. The school district has been participating in The Hour of AI to encourage students to participate in at least one hour of AI activities from December 1 – 19.

Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn visited a group of fifth graders at Liberty Elementary School in Margate on December 11 and participated in a Minecraft learning activity. He sat with the students, and they created a character or agent to perform various tasks in an imaginary community.

“AI is here, and we need to learn how to use it as an educational asset. If a student likes cars, they could use AI to create situations where a student would have to use math to repair a car,” said Hepburn.

During the Hour of AI at Liberty, the fifth graders were focused and engaged, creating agents and building communities.

Vicki Flournoy, the principal of Liberty, believes educators must prepare for AI because it will become a significant part of education. “We can use AI as a tool, but we must know how to control it and use it responsibly,” she said.

Third-grade teacher and AI liaison Tameka Grant knows AI is here to stay. “I am optimistic about AI, and I want children to learn to use it ethically. We can use AI to help children learn,” she said.

Students across the district participate in interactive, easy-to-follow activities designed to help them understand how AI works, explore basic concepts, and learn to use the technology responsibly. Activities have been provided through Code.org, Minecraft, MakeCode, and other AI-focused resources, according to Broward Schools information.

Got News in Margate? Send it to Margate Talk. Don’t Miss Reading NW Broward County’s #1 News Sites: Coconut Creek Talk, Coral Springs Talk, Parkland Talk, Tamarac Talk, and Sunrise FL Talk.

Author Profile

David Volz

David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.